Chapter Six #2
I grab the card, turning it over and over again as I debate my choices with myself.
Silas might be the lesser of two evils. At least if he decides to take something from me, I've already gotten something in return for what he takes.
If Corey gets his way, I'll be left with nothing, just more used and broken than I already am.
It's a twisted logic, but I feel like I'm choosing between the devil I know and the devil I don't .
I glance up at the clock again, the seconds ticking by. I bite my lip a little harder, unsure of what I should do. I'm so tired of being used, so afraid of what might happen if I put my trust in the wrong person.
You can't trust anyone, Charlotte. Everyone's just waiting to take something from you. But maybe, Silas could be different.
My wrist hurts like hell. It would be nice to have a doctor take a proper look at it. What's the worst that could happen if I go with Silas? Can he really do any more harm to me than what's already been done?
Mom will be pissed if I'm not here and doing a live stream on the cam site, but that's nothing new.
She'll either be drunk or high, ranting and raving about how I need to make more money for her.
If I go and meet Silas, and come back late enough, she'll be passed out and I won't have to deal with her.
That is, if she doesn't call the cops to report me missing.
Tomorrow is my eighteenth birthday. If Mom calls the cops tonight, they might find me, but by then, I'll be legally an adult. I can refuse to go home. I'd only have to make it one night on the streets before I could go to the homeless shelter in town.
Yes, I know I could technically go to a homeless shelter now as a minor.
I've been down that road before, but it didn't work out so well for me.
Two years ago, I ran away for the first time.
I was stupid enough to think the shelter would have to take me in, no questions asked.
I was wrong and found out the hard way shelters are required to contact a minor's parents, Child Protective Services, or the police.
Within hours, I was back in this hellhole with my mother.
After that, every time I tried to run away, my mom would call the cops. They always found me. I never made it more than a day or two before I was dragged back to her. She couldn't afford to let her 'cash cow' slip away.
Fuck it, I have nothing to lose at this point. Decision made. I grab my worn backpack from my bedroom floor, slinging it over my right shoulder and shove the business card into the back pocket of my jeans. I head for the front door, not wanting to waste any more time.
Stepping outside, I'm met by the cool evening air. I wrap my arms around myself, shivering as the chill seeps through my thin sweatshirt. Damn, it’s cold out. I wish I had a coat.
It gets dark earlier this time of year, and by 6:00 p.m., it's practically pitch black out.
I usually avoid walking around this part of town after sunset.
It's not exactly the safest area, so I'd just be asking for trouble.
But right now, I don't have a lot of options and something has to change, and soon.
That nightmare was just a small glimpse into my future—a future where I'm either going to end up dead or wish I was.
I quicken my pace, my eyes constantly scanning my surroundings.
The dim streetlights barely illuminate the sidewalk.
I feel like someone is about to jump out from the shadows at any minute.
Anyone could be watching me. Corey could be out here, or some other predator looking for an easy target.
The thought causes me to walk faster until I’m full-on running the last three blocks.
I turn the corner and spot the familiar neon sign of the diner flickering in the distance against the night sky.
As I cut across the mostly empty truck lot beside the diner, I notice a man leaning casually against the side of the building.
The cherry of his cigarette glowing in the darkness when he takes a drag.
Then, the phone in his hand lights up, revealing the sharp features of a familiar face. It's Silas.
The closer I get to Silas, I notice how different the man before me now looks compared to the man I had met earlier today.
His professional appearance is gone, along with the suit he had worn.
It’s been replaced by a fitted white t-shirt under a black zip-up hoodie, paired with well-worn jeans, and black leather boots.
He definitely does not look like a cop. He looks more like someone who would be breaking the law rather than a detective upholding the law .
When he spots me walking towards him, he gives me one of those casual two finger waves like all guys do.
Why can't men wave with their entire hand anyway?
What has me nearly freezing mid-step is the smile that spreads across his face.
He can't be smiling at me like that. No one smiles at me, especially not like that. He looks happy to see me. I turn my head to look over my shoulder, checking if there’s someone else behind me, but the parking lot is empty except for the two of us.
"Hey, you made it. I honestly didn't think you would show, and I'd have to track you down tomorrow.
" Silas snubs his cigarette out on the sole of his boot.
"Are you ready to go or do you want to go inside and grab something to eat?
I can take you somewhere else. The food here is shit, just like it's waitstaff. "
I smirk at his comment and the subtle jab at my mother. He's right though, the food here is shit. And my mother, well, she may even be worse than the food.
"No, Silas, that's okay. Thank you for the offer though." I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I'm nervous and I'm not sure what to do with my hands. "I stopped by the gas station on my walk home earlier and grabbed two hotdogs. I'm not hungry right now."
"I gave you $60 earlier. Why the hell are you eating hot dogs from a gas station? I'm really impressed you made it here at all now, you should be dying of food poisoning."
"Snob," I tease. "Seriously, they aren't that bad. They are even the all-beef ones. Plus, it was happy hour, so I got two hotdogs for two dollars."
"Charlotte, nothing about what you just said is even fucking remotely close to happy."
"Fine, then you can take me to get something to eat, but only if I get to pick the place. "
"Deal." He motions for me to follow him. "Where do you want to go? I'll take you after we get that wrist looked at."
"The gas station on the other side of town by the car wash. They have two for three-dollar egg rolls all day. I'll even pay; I have $58." I try to keep a straight face while watching his reaction.
Silas doesn't turn around, just keeps walking while laughing and shaking his head.
"Fucking smartass," he says, more to himself than to me. He opens the door to a large, black pickup. "Climb in. You can get your wrist set then we'll go play Russian roulette with our colons eating shitty gas station eggrolls. We'll both get tortured."
I roll my eyes. "I didn't peg you for such a drama queen."
"I'm typically not, but you seem to bring out the best in me."
Fifteen minutes later, we are pulling into a gravel parking lot in front of a long, white, one-story building. I was expecting to go to an ER or urgent care. Confused, I look at the name on the door, 'Happy Hills Vet Clinic-Dr. Harris Pritchard'.
I slowly turn my head to look at Silas, "You are aware I'm not a dog, right?"
"You know, it took me most of the drive here, but I did eventually figure that out. They didn't give me that detective badge for nothin'. "
"Are they even allowed to treat me here? Can they even treat me?"
"Legally, no they can't. As far as being capable, yes. Harris can take an x-ray and set your wrist if that is what you need."
I stare out the window of the truck unsure of what I should do.
"Charlotte, look at me." I turn my head and when I do the sadness on his face makes my stomach drop.
"I'm sorry, okay? Bringing you to a veterinarian wasn't my first choice but it's my only choice.
I can't be seen on video taking you into a hospital.
I definitely can't have any paper trail that ties us together.
That could jeopardize some things for me.
Harris will treat you, no questions asked.
I trust him. I would never put you at risk by taking you to someone who I wasn't absolutely certain could take care of you. "
"Why would he do that," I ask. "Can't he get into a lot of legal trouble by treating a human?"
"He will be in a lot more trouble if I bust him for the Xylazine he sells to the local drug dealers." He answers so nonchalantly, as if he isn't a cop admitting he knows someone is committing a crime.
"What is Xylazine?" I decide to ask the safer question and ignore the illegal stuff.
"Drug dealers use it. They mix it with heroin and fentanyl. This area is flooded with both which causes a high demand for Xylazine."
"He won't give me any of that, right?" I'm starting to panic a little. I don't know who Harris is or really who Silas is.
"Fuck no. I'll take a dog collar and choke him to death with it before he even thought about giving you any of that shit. He's looking at your wrist Charlotte, nothing else."
"That seems a little harsh and slightly over the top. "
"But it would be effective. Plus, it's a real time saver.
Threatening someone's life tends to cut through the bullshit pretty quickly.
" The way he speaks so frankly, it could almost make you think he's serious and not joking.
"Are you ready to go in? I'll be with you the entire time, I promise. I won't let anything happen to you."
I'll be with you the entire time, I promise. I won't let anything happen to you.